Outgoing titleholder Michelle Dee of Makati crowned Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan as her successor. Manalo represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico, where she reached the top 30 and became the first Miss Universe Asia.[1] She is first Black woman to have been selected to represent the country in Miss Universe.[2][3]
On April 11, 2023, the Miss Universe Philippines Organization announced the launch of a new accredited partners program that would select delegates from the 2024 edition onwards.[4] This allows accredited partners to organize local pageants that will send competitors to the national pageant.[5][6] This replaced the previous system, where applicants underwent a screening process before being confirmed as a candidate for the title.[7][8][9] The national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee, explained that this intended to "even the playing field" by having local organizers providing resources to participants in the pageant. It was compared to that used in Miss USA. Supsup-Lee added that it will "provide women in the provinces with an equal opportunity", noting that previously contestants based in Metro Manila had a financial advantage.[10][6]
As the Miss Universe Organization removed the age limit from Miss Universe 2024 onwards, allowing competitors aged 29 and above to compete, while keeping the minimum age to 18.[11][12][10] In light of the change, media outlets cited Jocelyn Cubales, who competed in Miss Universe Philippines – Quezon City at the age of 69, as the first senior citizen to compete in local pageants affiliated with the national pageant.[13][14]
The edition marks the first time in which delegates representing Overseas Filipino Communities will be sent to the pageant.[15] Media outlets including The Philippine Star and the Manila Standard have also noted the presence of "pageant veterans" in the edition,[16][17] citing the participation of Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon, who competed in Miss International 2018; Christi McGarry of Taguig, who competed in Miss Intercontinental 2015; Kris Tiffany Janson of Cebu, who competed in Miss Intercontinental 2014; and Cyrille Payumo of Pampanga, who was crowned as Miss Tourism International 2019.[18][19][20]
Withdrawals and replacements
Out of the 55 initial contestants announced, four announced their withdrawal from the competition prior to the coronation night: Natasha Jung of Kananga on February 22, 2024;[21] Joanne Marie Thornley of Angeles on March 19;[22] Lorraine Ojimba of Quezon City on April 3;[23] and Kiara Landon of the Filipino community of Washington, United States, on April 19.[24]
Two of the four franchises with withdrawn delegates sent replacement candidates to the pageant: Kananga announced Phoebe Torita as its new delegate on February 28,[25] while Quezon City announced Cam Lagmay as its new delegate on April 7.[26] Angeles and Washington did not send new delegates, ultimately withdrawing from the competition.[27]
On April 2, 2024, the organization announced that the coronation night will be held on May 22, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Bay City, Pasay.[28] The sale of tickets for the event began on April 8.[29] The pageant and its related events are being held with the theme "Love For All".[30][31] The initial fifty-five competitors were formally introduced at a press presentation on February 18, at the Hilton Manila. This was held concurrently with the appointment ceremonies for the Miss Philippines and Mister Pilipinas Worldwide pageants.[32][33]
Additional titles
On May 13, 2024, the organization announced that four more national titles would be contested in the pageant.[34] In a separate ceremony following the coronation night, delegates were appointed to represent the country in Miss Supranational, Miss Charm, Miss Eco International, and Miss Cosmo.[35]
Shortly after the coronation night, the top 10 delegates shortlisted from the top 20 semifinalists were given the choice to represent the country in four international beauty pageants.[39] As first runner-up, Stacey Gabriel of Cainta had the first choice, but declined any of the titles. Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon then had the first choice as second runner-up and chose to be crowned Miss Cosmo Philippines.[40]
With the theme Flora and Fauna, the National Costume Competition was held on April 28, 2024, at the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol Gym in Sultan Kudarat. R'Bonney Gabriel and Marco Gumabao hosted the event.[48][49] The results of the competition were announced on April 29. Alexie Brooks of Iloilo City, Janet Hammond of Southern California, and Tamara Ocier of Tacloban, were named winners, each receiving a ₱100,000 cash prize.[46]
The contest was held following the runway challenge held on April 26 and the Inaul Fashion Show, held on April 27, which showcased the creations of 15 local designers based on the indigenous inaul cloth.[50][51]
Challenges
In the run-up to the competition, the fifty-three contestants competed in preliminary contests for a guaranteed spot in the semifinals. The results for each challenge were determined through online polls.[52] The swimsuit competition, the first of the preliminary contests for the pageant, was held on April 20, in Boracay at the Aqua Boracay resort. Also determined during the contest were eight "Acqua Boracay Angels" and twelve brand ambassadors for Arete Tagaytay.[53] The five finalists for the contest were announced on May 4.[54] The individual reels of the contestants were released on April 27, which saw the public vote for the winner on Facebook.[55] The third competition, the "Up Close & Personal" personality interviews, followed on May 7, with executive vice president Voltaire Tayag serving as the sole panelist.[56] On May 8, voting opened for the runway challenge, the third contest.[57]
The preliminary competition was held at the Manila Hotel (pictured in 2012).
The results of the preliminary competition, held on May 19, 2024, at the Manila Hotel, which evaluated the 53 delegates in the swimsuit and evening gown categories and the closed-door interviews, determined the first 15 semifinalists for the edition.[62][63] The voting public determined the winners of the pre-pageant challenges which each advanced a delegate to the semifinals, creating a total of 20 semifinalists, an increase of two from the previous edition.[62] The semifinalists competed in the swimsuit competition, where they were then narrowed down to ten. Afterward, top 10 competed in the evening gown competition, where five delegates were chosen to advance to the finals. The top five finalists then participated in the question and answer portion where Miss Universe Philippines 2024 and her runners-up were determined.[64]
Selection committee
The panel of judges for the pageant consisted of:[65]
The delayed telecast of the preliminary interviews and the preliminary gala night, originally set to be aired on May 20, at 12:00 p.m. and 6:00pm (PhST), respectively, on the EmpirePH YouTube channel, was subject to delays and glitches and was eventually made private.[73] Attracting backlash from netizens, the organizers released a public apology and re-uploaded the video of the telecast.[73] The coronation night, which ran for nearly six hours, was criticized on social media for its length.[74] The organization explained that the length was a result of allotting "enough time" for the "tabulations, production set-ups, and costume changes" during the event. As a result, a shortened version of the pageant was uploaded on the organization's YouTube channel.[75]
Contestants
Fifty-three contestants competed for the title.[76][77][78]
^ abRequintina, Robert (April 8, 2024). "Former UP cheerleading captain is Quezon City's bet for 2024 Miss Universe Philippines". Manila Bulletin. p. 1.
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